Pumping system and method for controlling it

ABSTRACT

A pumping system ( 1 ) comprising a pump ( 2 ) having an electrical drive motor ( 4 ) and a control unit ( 6 ) configured to control the speed of the electrical drive motor ( 4 ). The control unit ( 6 ) is configured to receive position information data ( 8 ) and/or to process position information data ( 8 ) on the basis of received data ( 24 ). The control unit ( 6 ) is adapted to control the pump ( 2 ) on the basis of the received or processed position in-formation data ( 8 ).

The present invention generally relates to a pumping system forpressurising a fluid. The present invention more particularly relates toa pumping system that is adapted to provide pressure and flow thatvaries according to predefined requirements.

Control of pumps in pumping system can be carried out in several waysand it is possible to use various regulation regimes. Often control ofthe delivered pump pressure and flow is based on detected or estimatedpressure values within the pumping system. It is, by way of example,possible to use a frequency converter to control or regulate the speedof a pump in order to operate the pump according to different pumpcurves. Hereby the provided pressure can be adjusted to meet the actualrequirements so that energy can be saved.

In some applications, the pumping system needs to deliver differentpressure and flow as function of time. Some applications require lowpressure and flow values during a first type of conditions while higherpressure and flow values are required during a second type ofconditions. It is known that pressure and flow values can be controlledby using different types of predefined pump curves, however; in someapplications it may be an advantage to control the pressure and flowvalues according to other parameter than the one that are used in theprior art pump systems.

It is an object for the present invention to specify a pumping systemthat is adapted to provide pressure and flow values that vary in amanner so that the pumping system can be used to carry out tasks thatcan not be carried out by using the prior art pump systems. It isfurther an object of the present invention to specify a pumping systemthat can carry out irrigation of field or farmland having a complexgeometry.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description and the appended claims. It willbe recognized that the foregoing description is not intended to list allof the features and advantages of the invention. Various embodiments ofthe inventions will satisfy various combinations of the objects of theinvention and some embodiments of the invention will provide fewer thanall of the listed features and satisfy fewer than all the listedobjectives.

The objectives can be achieved by a pumping system having the featuresdefined in claim 1 and a method as defined in claim 8. Preferredembodiments are defined in the dependant sub claims and explained in thefollowing description and shown in the accompanying drawings.

The pumping system according to the invention comprises a pump having anelectrical drive motor and a control unit configured to control thespeed of the electrical drive motor. The control unit has an interfacefor receiving position information data and/or to processing positioninformation data on the basis of received data. The control unit isadapted to control the pump on the basis of the received or processedposition information data.

Hereby it is achieved that the pumping system can provide pressure andflow that varies as function of position so that the pumping system canbe used in various applications.

Position information data may be any kind of position data. The positioninformation data may be data about the position of the pump or theposition of another device (a mechanical irrigation device by way ofexample). Position information data may be three dimension position datadefined in any suitable coordinate system. Accordingly, the positioninformation data may be given in a spherical coordinate system forinstance. Geographic coordinates or cylindrical coordinates may also beused. It is possible to use one dimensional, two dimensional or threedimensional position information data.

The position information data may be of any suitable form, by way ofexample, the position information data may be defined by using theGlobal Positioning System (GPS), or another suitable system. Theposition information data may be data from a map or from a sensor thatis adapted to provide position information data.

By the term “control” is meant that the control unit is adapted toadjust or control the pump in accordance with at least one predefinedcriteria depending on the received or processed position informationdata. The regulation of the pump may be done by using the control unitthat preferable is equipped with a frequency converter that is capableof changing the speed of the pump and hereby changing the flow and/orpressure generated by the pump.

Advantageously, the control unit is configured to control the deliveredpressure and/or flow of the pump on the basis of the received orprocessed position information data. The delivered pressure and the flowof the pump are essential parameters that can be controlled in a pumpingsystem according to the present invention. Hereby, it is possibly todeliver a predefined (e.g. a uniformly distributed) quantity of fluid toa specified surface.

Regulation of the pressure and flow may be carried out by usingpredefined control and/or regulation regimes. These regulation regimesmay involve algorithms that are configured to optimise different sets ofcriteria's. Specific flow and/or pressure may be maintained for aperiod, however; the flow and/or pressure may also be changed asfunction of time according to predefined rules based on positioninformation data.

Advantageously, the control unit is configured to control the pumppressure and/or the flow on the basis of wind information data and/orweather forecast data and/or soil data.

Hereby the pump pressure and/or the flow can be controlled in a verysophisticated manner taking wind information data and/or weatherforecast data and/or soil data into account.

It may be beneficial that position data information is provided by atleast one sensor adapted to communicate directly or indirectly with thecontrol unit of the pump. It is possible to use one sensor or severalsensors to provide position information data. The position informationdata may be given in any suitable form either directly to the controlunit of the pump or to an intermediate member of any suitable type. Theposition information data may be used in combination with other types ofprovided or received data (weather forecast data by way of example).

Thus, it is possible to apply position data information that is beingupdated constantly. The position data information may be transformedinto any suitable data form or be received directly by the control unitof the pump system.

The sensor(s) may be integrated in the pump. However, it is alsopossible to arrange the sensor(s) elsewhere (e.g. at a pipe being influid communication with the pump). As long as the sensor is able tocommunicate with the control unit of the pumping system

It is possible to have a pumping system where the control unit isconfigured to control the pump pressure and/or the flow on the basis ofany suitable type of data so that, influence of various conditions canbe taken into account during the regulation of the pressure and/or flowof the pump. In applications that are influenced by several conditionsor parameters it may be an advantage to control the pressure and flow ofthe pump according to these conditions or parameters.

It may be an advantage that the control unit is configured to controlthe pump pressure and/or the flow on the basis of external informationdata. This type of information data may be provided from outside thepiping system (e.g. provided from the Internet). The information datamay be any type of data and may be available in any suitable form. Thecontrol unit of the pumping system may be configured to carry outprocessing(s) on the basis of these information data and hereby providedata that can be used to optimise the process that is carried out byusing the pump system. Processing may be any suitable type of processingthat may include various calculation methods, determination methods oroptimisations methods. Hereby, it may be possible to increase the valueof the received data information.

It may be an advantage that the pumping system is adapted to dose or todeliver a predefined quantity of fluid within a predefined time period.Hereby it is possible to use the pumping system to tasks in which a veryaccurate quantity of fluid is required. By way of example it is possibleto use such pumping system to deliver a predefined quantity of water toa given portion of a field or to a specific area in a green house sincesome areas may require more water than other areas. It is also possibleto control the duration of the dosing task/delivery task by varying thespeed of delivery (this may be done by regulating/controlling the flowrate since the delivered quantity is given by the flow rate times thedosing time).

Advantageously, the pumping system comprises means for changing theposition and/or orientation of the nozzle or the position and/ororientation of the pump. Hereby the pumping system can change thedirection of the fluid that is pressurised by the pumping system. Thepumping system can release the fluid in any desired direction bychanging the position and/or orientation of the nozzle or the pump.

It is possible to change the pressure as function of the position and/orthe orientation of the pump and/or the time and hereby adapt the pumpingsystem to deliver a predefined amount of fluid depending on severalparameters (e.g. the time and the position of the pump).

It may be an advantage that the pumping system comprises a pump having anozzle at the pumping system that comprises means (e.g. an actuator) forchanging the position and/or orientation of the nozzle of the pump. Theactuator for changing the position and/or orientation of the nozzle ofpump may be any suitable kind of actuator. By way of example, it ispossible to use pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical actuators capable ofadjusting the position and/or orientation of the pump. It is possible touse a control regime where sensor signals or other received or otherwiseprocessed information is used to determine the most advantageousposition and/or orientation of the pump.

It may be advantageous if at least one pressure sensor and/ortemperature sensor and or flow sensor is provided in the pumping systemand that this at least one sensor is configured to communicate with thecontrol unit. Sensor signals received by the control unit may be used tocontrol the pump together with the received or processed positioninformation data. Hereby it will be possible to carry out a veryaccurate and specific regulation of the pump.

The method according to the present invention is a method forcontrolling a pumping system comprising a pump having an electricaldrive motor and a control unit configured to control the speed of themotor. The pump receives processes position information data and/orprovides position information data on the basis of received data and thecontrol unit controls the pump on the basis of the received positioninformation data or the processed position information data.

The control unit may control the pump by changing the pressure and/orflow generated by the pump according to a preset criteria and positioninformation data. The method makes it possible to provide pressure andflow values that vary in a manner so that the pumping system can be usedto carry out tasks that can not be carried out by using prior artmethods.

Advantageously the control unit control the delivered pressure and flowof the pump on the basis of position information data.

It may be beneficial that the position data information is provided byat least one sensor adapted to communicate directly or indirectly withthe control unit of the pump. Accordingly, highly accurate position datainformation can be provided.

It may be beneficial that the control unit is configured to control thepump pressure and/or the flow on the basis of wind information dataand/or weather forecast data so that these types of data can be takeninto account when regulating the pump pressure and/or the flow.

It may be an advantage that the pumping system is adapted to dose apredefined quantity of fluid within a predefined time period so that thedosing tasks can be carried out.

Advantageously, the position and/or orientation of the pump or thenozzle is controlled on the basis of position information data. Herebyit is possible to take position information data into account when theposition and/or orientation of the pump or the nozzle is controlled.

It may be an advantage to apply a pump having a nozzle and that theposition and/or orientation of the nozzle of the pump can be controlledon the basis of position information data. Hereby an optimum positionand/or orientation of the pump can be achieved by using the positioninformation data.

It may be beneficial that data from at least one pressure sensor and/ortemperature sensor and/or flow sensor communicates with the control unitand that the data from the at least one pressure sensor and/ortemperature sensor and/or flow sensor is used to control the pumppressure and/or flow. Hereby it is achieved that the control unit cancontrol the pump on position information data as well as additionalsensor data. This combination of data makes it possible to carry out avery complex regulation of the pump.

It may be an advantage that the control unit of the pumping systemreceives position information data that is a voltage or current signalor based on data communication. The received signals may be sampled byany suitable sampling rate and the signals may be filtered or processedby any suitable methods.

It may be beneficial that the control unit is configured to receiveposition information data and use these data to calculate a valuebetween 0-100% indicating the percentage of the maximum requiredperformance of pump.

It may be an advantage that the control unit is configured to controlthe speed from zero a maximum required speed and to decrease the speedhereafter, preferable in a pre-programmed interval so that the speednever reaches a fixed value. It may be an advantage that this cyclicpattern is repeated until another pattern is required.

It may be beneficial that the pump is configured to compensate for thedynamic performance of the system so that the pump is adapted toovercome pressure loss in pipes, a predefined minimum pressure, pressureloss due to non-return valves, and other pump specific dynamic issues.

Advantageously, the pumping system comprises a pressure sensor in aclosed loop control adapted to stabilize dynamic performance the pumpsystem.

It may be an advantage that the pumping system comprises means (such asa protection device) for protecting the system against low inletpressure, high temperature, high flow or any other type of overload.

Advantageously, the pumping system comprises means (such as an alertmodule) for providing a warning and/or an alarm. A warning and/or analarm may be sent to any external device.

The invention is not limited to the described embodiments which can bemodified in many ways.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be moreparticularly described, by way of example, with reference to theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a pumps system according to the invention and

FIG. 2 shows another pumping system according to the invention.

Other objects and further scope of applicability of the presentinvention will become apparent from the detailed description givenhereinafter.

Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustratingpreferred embodiments of the present invention, elements of a pumpingsystem 1 according to invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The pumpingsystem 1 comprises a pump 2 having an electrical drive motor 4. Acontrol unit 6 is connected to the motor 4 of the pump 2. The pump 2comprises a fluid inlet 12 and a fluid outlet 11 that is connected to ahose 16. It would be possible to connect the fluid outlet 11 to a pipe(not shown) instead of the hose 16.

A first sensor 10 is provided near the distal end 15 of the hose 16. Thefirst sensor 10 is configured to determinate the position of the distalend 15 of the pipe 16 and to send position information data 8 to thecontrol unit 6. The pumping system 1 also comprises a second sensor 14arranged at the fluid outlet 11 of the pump 2. The second sensor 14 isconfigured to measure the flow Q and the pressure H of the fluid and tosend flow and pressure data to the control unit 6 of the pumping system1. It is possible to have a pumping system 1 that is configured toreceive data 8 from sensors arranged outside the piping system 1. By wayof example a moisture sensor (not shown) may be arranged in a field andbe configured to send data 8 to the control unit 6 of the piping system1. The control unit 6 may use the received data 8 directly to processthe data 8 in any suitable way. By way of example, it is possible tocombine several types of data and to use a predefined regulation regimeto control the speed of the pump 2 and hereby the delivered flow and/orpressure.

In principle it is possible to use any type of pump. Moreover, it wouldbe possible to have a pumping system comprising several pumps 2 and oneor more control units 6.

The pumping system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be used as irrigationpumping system for a garden or a green house or a field, by way ofexample. The first sensor 10 may be configured to determine the positionof the distal end 15 of the hose 16 and couple the position withpredefined information of the required irrigation requirements in allparts of the garden or green house. Thus, the pumping system 1 iscapable of delivering a predefined quantity of water to each of theareas in the garden or green house or field.

In an area with little or no need for water the control unit 6 willcontrol the pump 2 so that only a small quantity or no water isdelivered. This may be achieved by reducing the speed of the electricaldrive motor 4 and eventually stopping the electrical drive motor 4 whenthe predefined quantity of water has been delivered to the respectiveareas.

In an area that is associated with a larger water requirement thecontrol unit 6 will control the pump 2 so that a larger quantity ofwater is delivered. This may be done by increasing the speed of theelectrical drive motor 4 and stopping the electrical drive motor 4 whenthe predefined quantity of water has been delivered to the areas.

The speed of the electrical drive motor 4 may be regulated or controlledby using a frequency converter. Such frequency converter may beconnected to the control unit 6 or be a part or the control unit 6.

FIG. 2 illustrates a pumping system constituting an irrigation system18. The irrigation system 18 comprises a pump 2 arranged inside aprotective metal pipe 24 (thus the pump is not visible in FIG. 2). Thepump 2 is electrically connected to a control unit 6 that also isconnected to a motor 22 arranged in a manner so that it is configured tochange the orientation of a nozzle 26 that is provided at an end gun 20arranged at the distal end of the irrigation system 18. A positionsensor 10 is arranged close to the nozzle 26. This position sensor 10 iscapable of determining the position and/or orientation of the nozzle 26(e.g. the angle of the water leaving the nozzle 26 measured relative toa vertical or one or more other directions).

The control unit 6 is adapted to regulate and to control the speed of anelectrical drive motor (not shown) of the pump 2 and hereby starting,stopping or changing the pressure and flow of the pump 2 is required.The control unit 6 is also adapted to control the orientation of thenozzle 26. The orientation of the nozzle 26 may be measured relative tovertical and relative to a horizontal direction (e.g. north).

In use the sensor 10 determines the position and the orientation of thenozzle 26 and position information data is sent to the control unit 6.The control unit 6 may comprise a memory that stores information aboutthe geometry of the field that is irrigated so that the distance fromthe nozzle 26 to the periphery of the field is a known quantity for eachposition and each orientation of the nozzle 26. The control unit 6 maycalculate the required pressure that the pump 2 has to deliver in orderto reach the outer most part of the field. Moreover, the deliveredquantity of water may be dosed by controlling the flow amount and thetime period within a range that ensures that the required quantity ofwater is leaving the nozzle 26. It is possible to take information aboutthe soil into account when a field is being irrigated. This may be doneby dividing the field into zones each having specific water requirementsdepending on the soil type of the zone. When the nozzle 26 is operatedwithin a given position the sensor 10 determines the position and sendsposition information data to the control unit 6. The control unit 6 cannow use the received position information data to determinate the fieldzone characteristics including, but not limited to the position of thezone, the soil type of the zone, and the quantity of water that isneeded in this zone.

The control unit 6 may also use additional wind information data and/orweather forecast data. The orientation of the nozzle 26 may be changedin order to compensate to the direction of the wind in case of windyconditions. Moreover, in hot weather or within a dry period, theirrigation system 18 may automatically increase the water requirementsbased upon signals from the control unit.

When the pressure of the pump 2 is increased, the nozzle 26 is able toirrigate zone in a longer distance from the nozzle 26. It is alsopossible to alter the orientation of the nozzle 26 and hereby change therange of reach of the water jet leaving the nozzle 26. It may be anadvantage the vertical position of the nozzle 26 is determined by thesensor 10 so that the vertical position of the nozzle 26 can be takeninto account when controlling the pump 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   1—Pump system-   2—Pump-   4—Motor-   6—Control unit-   8—Position information data-   10—Sensor-   11—Fluid outlet-   12—Fluid inlet-   14—Sensor-   15—Distal end-   16—Hose-   18—Irrigation system-   20—End gun-   22—Motor-   24—Protective pipe-   26—Nozzle

1. A pumping system comprising: a pump having an electrical drive motorand a control unit configured to control the speed of the electricaldrive motor, the control unit includes an interface for at least one ofreceiving position information date or processing position informationdata on the basis of received data; and the control unit is adapted tocontrol the pump on the basis of the at least one of the received or theprocessed position information, wherein the control unit is adapted tocontrol at least one a flow rate or a pressure based upon the at leastone of the received or the processed position information. 2-14.(canceled)
 15. A pumping system comprising: a pump configured todisplace a fluid; a drive motor operably coupled to the pump, the drivemotor configured to adjust a pump speed to regulate at least one of aflow rate of the pump or a pressure of the pump; and and a control unitoperably coupled to the drive motor, the control unit configured tocontrol the pump speed of the drive motor based upon positioninformation data, wherein the control unit is configured to control atleast one of the flow rate or the pressure based upon the positioninformation data.
 16. The pumping system as recited in claim 15, whereinthe position information data is furnished by at least one sensoradapted to communicate with the control unit.
 17. The pumping system asrecited in claim 16, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at leastone of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, or a flow sensor. 18.The pumping system as recited in claim 15, wherein the control unit isfurther configured to control at least one of the flow rate or thepressure based upon at least one of wind information data, weatherforecast data, or soil information data.
 19. The pumping system asrecited in claim 15, wherein the pump is configured to displace apredefined quantity of fluid within a predefined time period.
 20. Thepumping system as recited in claim 15, further comprising a motorconfigured to adjust an orientation of a nozzle, the nozzle in fluidcommunication with the pump.
 21. The pumping system as recited in claim20, wherein the position information data represents a position of thenozzle.
 22. A method for controlling a pumping system, the methodcomprising: receiving position information data relating to a positionof a pump, the pump configured to displace a fluid; adjusting a pumpspeed of a drive motor to regulate at least one of a flow rate of thepump or a pressure of the pump, the drive motor operably coupled to thepump, wherein the at least one of the flow rate or the pressure isregulated based upon the position information data.
 23. The method asrecited in claim 22, wherein the position information data is furnishedby at least one sensor adapted to communicate with the control unit. 24.The method as recited in claim 23, wherein the at least one sensorcomprises at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, or aflow sensor.
 25. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprisingadjusting the pump speed to regulate the at least one of the flow rateor the pressure based upon at least one of wind information data,weather forecast data, or soil information data.
 26. The method asrecited in claim 22, wherein the pump is configured to displace apredefined quantity of fluid within a predefined time period.
 27. Themethod as recited in claim 22, further comprising causing a motor toadjust an orientation of a nozzle in fluid communication with the pump.28. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein the position informationdata represents a position of the nozzle.